David J Stephens - CWAC Head Coach

Coach Stephens has been involved in swimming for over 25 years both as a swimmer and a coach.  He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and swam for the Dynamo Swim Club and was an All-American at Marist High School.  He continued his swimming career at the University of Michigan and lettered all four years while swimming under Olympic coach Joh Urbanchek.  Following his graduation from the University of Michigan Coach Stephens moved to Chicago for law school and became a swim coach along the way.  He completed his JD program at the John Marshall Law School and passed the 2004 Bar Exam.  He started the CWAC program in the fall of 2004.  Coach Stephens is the Development Accounts Manager at St. Ignatius College Prep and also serves as the head coach of the men’s and women’s varsity teams.  His high school teams have won 10 IHSA sectional titles the past eight years.  Coach Dave recently served as the head coach for Team Illinois at the 2007 Central Zone Championship.

Jim F Clarke - EP Head Coach

Coach Clarke is an English teacher and the head swimming and diving coach for the men’s and women’s teams at Evergreen Park Community High School.  He has been involved in swimming for thirty years as a swimmer and a coach.  He grew up in Evergreen Park and swam for the Evergreen Park Barracudas, EP Stingrays and Ridge Park.  His high school and age group teams have combined for five team conference championships over the last three years.  Clarke lettered in swimming at Lake Forest College and received an M.A. from  Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.  He is currently pursuing an MCW at Northwestern  University.  In 2004, Clarke competed in the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim and was named SSC Coach of the Year in 2008.

Coach Gaggiano is a Chicago native who swam and played polo at Mt. Carmel High School.  Nick coached 7 years in New York at the GAEL Aquatic Club and Wykagyl Country Club.  Nick has produced many great swimmers in New York and CWAC is excited to have him back in Chicago.  Nick has a B.A. in Journalism from Iona College where he swam and played water polo.

Sarah E Hassan - EP Silver I Coach

Coach Sarah Hassan comes to CWAC in her fourth year of coaching age group swimming, her three previous with Coach Clarke and the Evergreen Park Stingrays. While attending Evergreen Park Community High School, Sarah was a four year varsity swimmer, a record holder in the 200 freestyle relay, a SICA North conference champion in the 100 breaststroke and captain of the 2004 SICA North Conference championship team. Sarah is working toward a degree in Special Education at Moraine Valley Community College and will attend Northeastern University in January, 2008. She swam age group with the Evergreen Park Stingrays, RAF, and RASC.

Currently Josue is attending the University of Illinois at Chicago where he has obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and plans to attend Medical School in the fall of 2009.  While attending college Josue maintains an active life in the aquatic world. He was the head coach at Lane Tech High School from 2004-2007. While coaching at Lane Tech, Josue set a school and city record for winning 13 City Championships in just three years. Josue was recognized as the youngest most successful head coach in the City of Chicago among CPS. He was also recognized for being one of the few coaches that coached both swimming and water polo. Coach Josue helped Lane Tech obtain the first Water Polo Championship in Lane Tech history. He has also coached with the New Trier Swim Club, where he worked under some of the best coaches in the state.

Coach Dana grew up in Evanston where she competed on both the swim team and synchronized swim team at Evanston Township High School.   She went on to attend Columbia College Chicago and obtain her B.A. in Fiction Writing.  Since Columbia didn’t have a swim team, she began competing Illinois Masters and hasn’t stopped since.  She currently holds state records in the 800 free, 1500 free, and 400 IM.  For the past eight years she has taught/coached at Evanston Athletic Club, where she has helped people ages one to one-hundred learn to swim.  Dana was recently named a 2008 Long Distance All-Star by Illinois Masters Swimming.

Coach Brooke began swimming competitively at age 11 for Seacoast Swimming Association in Dover, NH. In 2004, she received a B.S. in Recreation Management from the University of New Hampshire where she swam all four years.  Then returned to Seacoast to coach the age group and junior programs.  She recently moved to Chicago and loves it.

Brian C Edgeworth - EP Blue Coach

Brian Edgeworth joins CWAC as a first year swim coach, working primarily with the Blue Level swimmers.  Brian swam for four years at EPCHS under Coach Clarke during which time he was a co-captain, three time MVP, and five time All-Conference for the South Suburban Conference Red Division.  In 2006, Brian helped lead the EP Mustangs boys’ swim team to their first conference championship in thirty years.  Brian currently trains with CWAC and is an Illinois Swimming Senior State Qualifier in the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.  Brian swam age group for eight years with the Evergreen Park Stingrays Swim Club.

Neal F Drumm - EP Silver III Coach

Neal Drumm joins CWAC as a first year coach working primarily with the Blue Level and Silver III swimmers.  Neal was a four year swimmer for Coach Clarke at EPCHS, during which time he earned two SSSC Red Division All-Conference nominations, was the recipient of two Coaches Awards, and was nominated co-captain.  In 2006, Neal helped lead the EP Mustang boys’ swim team to their first conference championship in thirty years.  Neal swam age group for five years with the Evergreen Park Stingrays Swim Club.

Erik J Morales - EP Silver II Coach

Coach Morales is a recent graduate of Benedictine University where he was a two-time team captain and Benedictine University Male Athlete of the Year nominee.  Erik finished a solid college career which culminated this last spring in finals performances in the 200 butterfly and the 500 freestyle at the Liberal Arts Championship Meet.  Erik received multiple all-conference and academic all-conference nominations while swimming for Coach Clarke at EPCHS.  In addition to these nominations, Erik was a nominated captain twice, received the team MVP award and was a member of a school record setting 200 freestyle relay.  Erik will be working with the Seniors and Silver II groups.

Amanda A Nolan - EP Blue / Silver III Coach

Coach Nolan joins the EP CWAC staff in her first year as a Blue Level and Silver III coach.  Amanda was an EP Stingray age group swimmer and a member of two conference championship teams under Coach  Clarke at EPCHS where she also served a year as team captain. She was a member of multiple conference champion relays and was an individual champ in the 100 backstroke.  Amanda is currently attending Moraine Valley Community College and plans to transfer into the nursing program at St. Xavier University.